MTG Salvation

Quote from The_Cooler

Big Papa :sym2g::sym2g::sym2g:
Creature - Beast Mutant [R]
Graft 4
Whenever a creature with a +1/+1 counter leaves the battlefield, put X +1/+1 counters on ~ where X is the number of counters on that creature.
0/0

IIW: Utility creature ≤ 3cmc

So in most cases he's really a 3 coster for a 4/4 who sucks up counters in a reverse-modular kind of way (referencing darksteel's gift-upon-death ability). And he grafts, which in theory interacts with the latter ability quite nicely until some jerk who is still in love with the onslaught-mirrodin standard format crawls out of his cave and decides to make standard miserable for everyone again. If you couldn't cheat his cost, I would like this more.

Quote from bloodyspasm

Soritami Cloudskipper 4UU
Creature - Moonfolk Wizard (R)
Flying
4: Return all lands you control to their owner's hand: take an extra turn after this one. This ability can only be played as a sorcery and can only be paid by mana produced by lands.
4/4

IIW: a card that kills planeswalkers pre-emptively

Reading this card, you can tap all your land for mana, then activate the ability several times. The land-returning bit is non-specific, so if you have no lands you're still fulfilling the cost since it doesn't require a number of lands to be returned. Also, the play-as-sorcery drawback doesn't prevent you from abusing it since you can float mana. So Green with its uber-land-fetch-power loves you right now and wants to schedule lunch with you.

Quote from lemonator31

Life Elemental GGGGGG
Creature - Elemental
Shroud
Whenever another creature you control dies, return it to play at the end of the turn.
4/4
"Life is a fickle thing. So present, yet untouchable."

Black doesn't care that he costs six green, because Black can just na-nana it back from the dead for cheap then go to abuseville, population: Recursion players. If there was even the slightest or flavorful restriction on the ability, the card would be much more interesting. For example, limiting it to Elementals, or Green creatures, or just something more circumstantial.

Quote from lgmhorus

Redeemed Bloodkin4WB
Creature - Vampire
Flying, vigilance
Whenever a creature dealt damage by ~ this turn dies, put a +1/+1 counter on a creature you control.
"I may not shed my curse, but at least I'll give it a purpose"
4/4

Erhmagerd this is the coolest twist on the vampire ability. I think it would be even cooler if the ability couldn't target itself and he had to bestow the counter onto something else. Having said that, I think if this card wasn't forced to 4/4-6cmc he'd either cost one less or be a tad bigger.

Quote from jenofresh

Yesman Ghais X1WUBRG
Legendary Creature - Human Advisor [M]

~ enters the battlefield with X +1/+1 counters on it.

1W: Each player gains X life, where X is equal to the amount of +1/+1 counters on ~.
1U: Each player draws X cards, where X is equal to the amount of +1/+1 counters on ~.
1B: Each player returns X creatures from their graveyard to the battlefield, where X is equal to the amount of +1/+1 counters on ~.
1R: Each player deals X damage to target creature, where X is equal to the amount of +1/+1 counters on ~.
1G: Each players searches their library for X basic lands and places them on the battlefield, where X is equal to the amount of +1/+1 counters on ~.

4/4

No matter what you request, he will always oblige it, even if it costs him.


IIW: Lord of the Rings Flavor

This card is just too much. Abilities and casting cost aside (incidentally although technically cmc6 the X I'm trying to judge value at paying 6 mana to get a 4/4, hence the challenge), his activation costs are too cheap for card advantage too steep. There are also too many effects to add counters on him much faster than paying extra at the casting time. Too many ways to abuse this card, sadly.

Quote from 7H0R

Uuntara the Mysterious One :3mana::symu::symb::symb:
Legendary Creature - Shade Wizard [M]

Flash, Hexproof

When ~ enters the battlefield, choose up to 2 - Return all other creatures to their owner's hands; or counter target noncreature spell; or each opponent discards a card; or destroy target nonblack creature.

:2mana::symu::symb:, pay 2 life: Return ~ to its owner's hand.

:symb:: ~ gets +1/+1 and loses Hexproof until end of turn.

4/4


IIW: The signature spell of the most cunning mage.

I understand he's mythic, but seriously just what? Also, two of the choices conflict and would never be used together until they make a creature that says "can't be returned to the hand."

Quote from KageHamusuta

Sivara, of Many Worlds - 3GWU
Legendary Creature - Human Wizard
Whenever a permanent you control becomes exiled, you gain 2 life.
GWU: Exile target non-land permanent, then return that permanent to the battlefield under its owner's control.
4/4

This card lacks subtlety and doesn't feel like it deserves the 4/4 body. Also, I'm sure there are more rewarding and flavorful things this guy could have as an exile trigger than gaining life, though I admit finding balance would be tougher.

Quote from Cythare

Gnarled Grovetender 4GG
Creature - Treefolk Shaman (U)
Gnarled Grovetender enters the battlefield with two -1/-1 counters on it.
Remove a -1/-1 counter from Gnarled Grovetender: Regenerate another target Treefolk.
6/6

IIW: Shamans!

Getting around the 4/4 with a disappearing drawback reminiscent of that Eventide creature. Definitely an uncommon creature, and one that treefolk fans would definitely approve of (or they'd be off their rocker or drunk on metagame otherwise).

Personally I think people were trying too hard and going too crazy, especially with the wizards with uber abilities. My favorite card was Redeemed Bloodkin by IGMHORUS, hands down. Honorable mention goes to Cythare, definitely. I like that his card is doing something that I would throw in a casual constructed deck or heavily appreciate in a draft, assuming there were enough treefolk in the set.

Here's an example of an interesting 6cmc for 4/4 that doesn't have to reinvent the wheel, just showing since I saw too much craziness:

Interesting Hippo 4GG
Creature — Hippo (U)
Islandwalk
Whenever an Island enters the battlefield, scry 1.
4/4

So the IIW is.... "One Mana Legendary Permanent!"